Route 4: The Hoorndermeden Wedde

Please note that the riparian path on either side of the Westerwoldse Aa can sometimes be very boggy. Wearing waterproof footwear is therefore recommended. Possible bottleneck: the route crosses a grid above the water for a few metres at point 10.

The route first leads around burcht Wedde. It was first built around 1361 by Egge Addinga, who fled the Marcellus flood in Reiderland. The Addingas ran a reign of terror and Egge I was murdered by Westerwoldigers in 1391. Relations between the population and the Addingas remained difficult and, consequently, Egge II was lynched by an angry mob right in front of his castle in 1475. After that, drostees inhabited the house and justice was administered there. At the end of the 16th century, a series of witch trials were held there, which brought 19 women to the stake. Shortly afterwards, the city of Groningen bought the seigniory of Westerwolde, including Wedde. For a hundred and eighty years, the city retained its rights. Meanwhile, the castle was fortified into a real fortress. That did not stop the bishop of Münster, Bernard van Galen, from conquering it in 1665 and burning down half the village.

In 1828, the council of Groningen decided to have the house in Wedde demolished, but this was prevented by the purchase of the property by notary Koning from Bellingwolde. Because of all the alterations, voluntary or otherwise, little remains of the original castle: only the basement of the south wing dates back to the fourteenth century.

The restoration of the Castle was completed in 2012. The Castle is now first ever a children's hotel for underprivileged children. For more information, see the website www.burchtwedde.nl.

After this, you enter the Hoorndermeden; this is a large nature reserve (110 ha), located in the stream valley of the Westerwoldse Aa between Wedde and Blijham. It is traditionally a natural water storage area. During the redevelopment (2010/2011) as part of the Ecological Main Structure, a lot of hard work was done to restore the land to its original appearance as much as possible. The river's embankments were modified so that the area floods more often. The banks were given back their natural slope and bushes were planted in several places. A footbridge, a so-called "high hole", was also laid across the Aa (point 7) to allow new walking routes to emerge. To further promote nature development, the Hoorndermeden is extensively and ecologically managed by the Forestry Commission. Characteristic of the current landscape are the marshy grasslands on both sides of the river. The fields can be found on the higher lying ashes, the older planting on the original winter dykes. As ditches have been filled in, groundwater rises here and there. Rare sedge vegetation grows in these places. In spring, the unfertilised meadows turn lilac with cuckoo flowers, and in May the land is yellow with dandelions. Other plants growing there include nodding tooth seed and great rattle. Source: IVN Westerwolde-Oldamt.

Note: The route, when sheep or cows are grazing, is forbidden to dogs!

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This is a route of the Walking in Westerwolde Foundation, sponsored by B&B Boeren Maison and BuitenWedde

B&B Boeren Maison:
Hoofdweg Wedderveer 33, 9698 PB Wedde
M. 0630016073
www.boerenmaison.nl
info@boerenmaison.nl

BuitenWedde:
Hoornderweg 19-B, 9698 PK Wedde
M. 06-54266265 (Judith de Bruijn)
wbuitenweddeenwedde.nl
ibuitenweddetenwedde.n